• Mitchell Robinson’s return makes Knicks bigger, and maybe more dangerous

    TORONTO — has thought about the big return for a while now. Wednesday night, he could no longer hide his excitement. The New York center is getting his truck back. Flashing a picture of the pickup — it is a shade of blue bordering on purple with massive silver rims — Robinson’s eyes lit up. This is his joy. It has been away, being showcased at events by the company that lent him the vehicle, for too long. Advertisement The vehicle, which more resembles a Monster Truck than an F-150, changes...

  • 76ers upset over controversial ending, lack of foul call at finish in loss to Clippers

    The Los Angeles Clippers narrowly beat the in Philadelphia 108-107 after a dramatic ending saw the referees fail to call a foul on in the final second. With 8.8 seconds remaining, the Sixers’ drove into the paint and was stuffed at the rim by . Philadelphia then won the jump ball after the wedgie with 5.1 seconds left. WHAT A GAME-SAVING BLOCK FROM KAWHI! 🖐️ Clippers pull out a thrilling win in Philly. FINAL: LAC 108, PHI 107 — NBA (@NBA) On the final play, Oubre drove to the basket and was...

  • Warriors’ Draymond Green receives fourth ejection of season after exchange with referee

    forward was ejected less than four minutes into Golden State’s game against the in Orlando on Wednesday after receiving two technical fouls. Green was whistled for a foul at the 8:50 mark of the first quarter and disputed it. Two possessions later, after an and-1 foul on generated another stoppage, he went back to official Ray Acosta to continue his case. Acosta gave him a quick technical and began to walk toward the sideline and eventually the scorer’s table to deliver the news. Green...

  • Portland Thorns, Sophia Smith agree to contract extension: ‘I’m in the prime years of my career’

    will continue her professional career in Portland. On Wednesday, Smith signed a new contract extension with the , keeping her in the through the 2025 season. The new contract takes effect immediately with an option for 2026. Portland did not disclose the terms of the deal in its press release, but general manager Karina LeBlanc said Smith is the highest-paid player in the league on an annual basis with the new contract. An NWSL spokesperson confirmed her base salary is the highest yearly in the...

  • The Windup: Jordan Montgomery signing has NL West looking tough; will the Blue Jays put it all together?

    The Windup Newsletter ⚾ | This is The Athletic’s daily newsletter. to receive The Windup directly in your inbox. Opening Day is , and Jordan Montgomery is a Diamondback. We also have notes on , and our team preview tour goes through Toronto and Detroit. I’m Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal — welcome to the Windup! Jordan Montgomery’s contract a bargain for D-Backs Jordan Montgomery . It’s funnier if you imagine Montgomery missing the team bus after the World Series, living inside Chase...

  • James Harden looks to fix ‘The System.’ Philadelphia return is his next chance

    Philadelphia crowds are well known for holding grudges with departed stars. Hell, in some cases, you don’t even need to leave Philadelphia to feel the market’s scorn. has seen both sides. From Harden’s contract opt-in and trade request to his calling president of basketball operations and finally being , the when, where and what of the Harden-76ers saga was one of the dominant storylines of last offseason. It was discussed and dissected on podcasts, TV shows, social media and more....

  • NCAA president Charlie Baker wants ban on prop bets in college sports

    NCAA president Charlie Baker wants a ban on prop bets in college sports, he said in a statement released Wednesday. “The NCAA is drawing the line on sports betting to protect student-athletes and to protect the integrity of the game – issues across the country these last several days show there is more work to be done,” Baker said. Advertisement Prop bets allow fans to bet on how many points or rebounds a basketball player might have, or yards or touchdowns a football player might have, instead...

  • NFL kickoffs are so back, plus Jordan Montgomery finally signs

    The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Aaron Rodgers will play football this year. Ch-Ch-Changes: This is a pro-new rules newsletter Over the last two years, we have seen major American sports adopt huge rule changes. Before last season, baseball to great effect. We even covered a big NFL rule tweak yesterday. Today brings another, and it could be bigger than baseball’s. Yes, kickoffs are undergoing a...

  • Sex offender, ex-Jaguars employee who hacked jumbotron sentenced to 220 years in prison

    A U.S. District judge in Florida sentenced a convicted sex offender to 220 years in federal prison for producing, receiving and possessing child sex abuse material, and for hacking the jumbotron in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ stadium after the team did not renew his contract upon learning that he was a registered sex offender. Advertisement U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis sentenced Samuel Arthur Thompson, 53, for the offenses Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of...

  • 'Playoff atmosphere': Bruins' stars lead the charge in emotional win over Panthers

    SUNRISE, Fla. — In Tuesday’s third period, did not get all of when he forechecked his opponent along the left-side boards. But Pastrnak bumped Reinhart enough to delay the forward’s clearing attempt. That’s all the time the needed. With closing in as the second forechecker, Reinhart rushed the puck up the boards. He did not get enough behind his clearing attempt. Advertisement picked off the puck at the left point. Wotherspoon’s chip deflected off ’s stick and onto Pastrnak’s blade. As...

  • LAFC finalizing agreement with Olivier Giroud, sources say

    LAFC is finalizing a deal to sign French forward , sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic. The agreement would be for Giroud to join LAFC this summer when his contract with expires. He would join LAFC after Euro 2024, which runs from June 14 through July 14. ’s summer transfer window opens on July 18. Advertisement The guaranteed portion of the deal runs through the 2025 MLS season, sources add. LAFC has his discovery rights, meaning they have priority to sign him ahead of any other MLS...

  • Not your father's kickoffs: Making sense of NFL's new rule and what it will mean

    The ’s 29-3 approval Tuesday of creates one of the league’s most radical changes ever, with the hope of bringing excitement back to the play while reducing injuries. With it comes intriguing possibilities for strategy and personnel decisions as teams will have to figure it out on the fly this season. Advertisement In 2011, the league, looking to cut down on a disproportionate injury risk on kickoffs effectively neutered them by moving the kickoff point from the 30- to 35-yard line, making it...